PATIENT Brady Kurtz admits Grand Prix qualifiers are on his radar but is pledging to take his career one step at a time.

The Pirates number one will next month aim to inch towards a world championship berth with a strong showing in the Australian Senior Solo Championship.

The series begins at Kurri Kurri in Kurtz's home state of New South Wales on January 6 before moving on to Victoria venues Undera and Mildura and finishing at Gillman in South Australia.

Kurtz won the national title in 2016 and with a host of top names absent this time round including Jason Doyle, Chris Holder, Nick Morris and Troy Batchelor, the 21-year-old is among the favourites for glory.

A lofty finish would give Kurtz a spot in next year's Grand Prix qualifiers and the ex-Somerset man has that in the back of his mind.

He told the Daily Echo: "Hopefully, I can be a contender for the title.

"I would really like to be in the GP qualifiers next season but that is reliant on my result in the Australian Championship.

"All I want to focus on next year is having a great season for my three clubs – Poole, Vetlanda and Leszno.

"If that goes well, then I can think about the next step, which would be the GP series."

Pirates asset Jack Holder also takes his place in the 16-man field.

Line-up: Mason Campton, Joel Coyne, Jye Etheridge, Max Fricke, Matthew Gilmore, Jack Holder, Declan Knowles, Brady Kurtz, Jaimon Lidsey, Sam Masters, Robert Medson, Josh Pickering, Cooper Riordan, Justin Sedgmen, Jordan Stewart, Rohan Tungate. Reserves: James Davies, Matthew Pickering, Ben Cook.